If you detest standing in line or just being in crowded places your timing to go to Paris has never been better. Visibly noticeable are the shortened queues at the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Eiffel Tower, bateaux mouches, and special events.
The regional tourist board head has called it an “industrial disaster” since so much of Paris relies on visitor spending. The Ile-de-France figures for 2016 reflect big drops:
A 46.2% decline in Japanese visitors compared with the same period in 2015
A 35% decline in Russian visitors
A 19.6% decline in Chinese visitors
A 5.7% decline in visitors from the US
After recent major terror attacks in France, Paris is now seen as “less safe”. So it’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons. I myself will take a chance on Paris. Some vacation rental landlords are willing to “talk turkey” and reduce the rent especially if you’re booking within a month’s time frame. Hotels too probably will soon be forced to offer more affordable rates. A little direct negotiation with the front desk could mean extra savings for you.
I’m hoping tourists regain their confidence and Paris returns to its superstar status of being one of Europe’s most visited cities. After all, 14.97 million international visitors adds up to a lot of croissants.
As well as a lot of sold guidebooks: No Worries Paris, a photographic walking guide.
